Beeman Raider 1331

[JimT66]

I gotta say that the cheap pump was the thing that kicked me over the edge.  That and the sub $200 guns.  These things ain't much different than pumpers and gassers just on steroids.

My pumpers have been on vacation since I discovered PCPs.

There is no comparison between a 10-15FPE pumper and a 25+ FPE PCP.

Mine as well. They all cleaned and wiped, but still sitting . I just put a good scope on my turbo 362 a couple of weeks ago, with all intentions of shooting it. But when I reach to grab one for squirrels I always go for my pcp's.

dustcatchers.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Beeman Raider 1331 .22

30°F

3.5 turns in from out flush.

CPUM 14.3gr
2400 PSI Start

1. 791
3. 802
5. 817
7. 832
9. 853
10. 853 @ 2000 PSI
11. 855
13. 854
15. 845
17. 831
19. 819
20. 815 @ 1600 PSI

15 shots within 30 FPS.
 Nearly the same performance as 4.0 turns.
It is getting close to what I want from a shot string. A couple more fills and a couple tweaks and the Raider should be where I want it to be.
I tried one shot at 3.0 turns and 2450 PSI fill for 591 FPS,, much too low.
 Good from 2200 to 1600 PSI from 820-850-820 FPS in 15 shots.
 I'll refill and see what setting I'll try next possibly with heavier pellets as I had said before. But for now still in testing mode.
Excellent Work GTA, Stay Alert

NVak

Whoa!  That's impressive from an unregulated air gun.  I'm getting better than 18 consistent shots per fill with the .25. and almost 25 shots that are useable for hunting.  I'm very happy with the gun at this level but it's clear that .22 is the better caliber for efficiency.

[Nukall856]

Beeman Raider 1331 .22

27°F

3.25 turns in from out.
2400 PSI Start

CPUM 14.3gr

1. 823
3. 829
5. 824
7. 842
9. 835
10.848 @ 2000 PSI
11. 853
13. 844
15. 843
17. 831
19. 827
20. 816 @ 1600 PSI

< 21.3 - 23.1 FPE >
19 shots within 30 FPS
 
Ok I am Soo very close to the magic setting but this will work good for now. It seems a small adjustment in or out possibly 1/6 of a turn might be right where I want it.
 I received the O-rings I need to perform the Bstaley Mod, which will be done at a much later time. I also have the Quickshot Aluminum Side Lever Breech Made in Brazil, fancy,, but for now I'll be using the stock breech. Fun... Soo Fun...
Excellent Work Stay Alert

NVak

[Blowpipe Sam]

I'm keeping notes.

[Jayrotx821]

I'm not really a bullpup fan but I like the Beeman 1358. The forward cocking lever made it work for me. The reason I brought it up is because I have a feeling that the action on the 1331 is going to be real close if not the same.
My 1358 has turned into a real accurate shooter.
Waiting for someone to confirm my thinking.

Confirmed. My 1358 is also very accurate!

[JimT66]

So, how exactly do you remove the front sight base.for the Raider? The fake pipe at the end is already removed. Thanks!

[Blowpipe Sam]

So, how exactly do you remove the front sight base.for the Raider? The fake pipe at the end is already removed. Thanks!

According to what I read on AGN that part of the shroud is a friction fit.  The barrel has a milled flat under the shroud.  Apparently rotating the shroud back and forth slightly while pulling on it is enough to release it.  I haven't tried this myself mind you it's just what I read.  The rear sight base unscrews but leaves an unsightly hole in the shroud.  I settled for removing the rear sight leaf and leaving the base.  Do you think the front sight assembly is an overly fat abomination that effects the scope sight picture?  I sure do!  If you figure out how to get that sucker off please let me know.

[naptemp]

The front sight is held just by friction.
To remove the front sight off my Raider I heated the front sight body with a heat gun.
Then I wiggled it left and right until it came out.

Heat it for 20-30 seconds, and move the heat gun around.

[rkrr20307@comcast.net]

Hello been away from airguns for awhile. Found this post on the Beeman rifles. I did put Barra 1100Z side lever breeches on my .177 .22 and .25 rifles. I have not done anything with them lately but I think I do have the .177 and .22 side lever breeches with 1100z 20 inch barrels that I removed from my 2 crossmans before I sent them back on that recall. If I can find them I will be willing to sell them if anyone is interested. Let me look tonite when I get home and then I will post if I can find them. After all this good reports on them I may have to get them back out and tinker again. Thanx

[NorCal David]

Got some 20.06gr H&N FTT domed for Black Friday and tried them out at 25 yards, measured, sitting in a chair with elbow resting on a table. Bug buster scope still, at 6x. Best 5 shot group was just over 1/2”. Surprising how shakey I was today. Another group was 1” and a third was over an inch. Plinked a bit at 30 yards and that is probably as far as I would hunt. Marked 40 yards too, but I will need to clear more brush to shoot a target there. It has been too long between shooting sessions and I had a great time. Need to compare pellets and break out the chrony.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Sorry guys.  The long term hunting durability test is a failure.  This gun will make a fine plinker, pester, or bench rifle, but not a hunting gun.  It just won't hold zero with a scope.  Today I fitted the third scope and the fourth set of rings.  I am so tired of re-zeroing this gun.  I deliberately tipped the gun over onto a bed of pinestraw.  Knocked the zero off one inch to the left at 20 yards.  I'm done.  It simply cannot tolerate anything but the gentlest handling.   

[naptemp]

I paid $120-$130 for my .177 and .22.
I think they are very good plinkers, short range target shooters under 50 yards.

You expect to smack your gun and still hold zero on the first shot.
None of my airguns (all under $500 and scopes under $50) can do that.

When I have this kind of isues is usually the scope or the scope rings.

If I wanted airguns holding their zero, no matter what, I would use open sights.

[Blowpipe Sam]

I paid $120-$130 for my .177 and .22.
I think they are very good plinkers, short range target shooters under 50 yards.

You expect to smack your gun and still hold zero on the first shot.
None of my airguns (all under $500 and scopes under $50) can do that.

When I have this kind of isues is usually the scope or the scope rings.

If I wanted airguns holding their zero, no matter what, I would use open sights.

And yet I can get that kind of reliability from other guns I own.  My favorite Crosman 1400 is dependable as a rock.  The conditions that I hunt in are pretty extreme.  Very rough, potholed forestry roads, deep, swampy thickets,  steep head ravines.  It's public land so I have to be prepared to hike a little farther and wade a little deeper than I would on a permission.  I usually check the zero at least once during a hunt with all my air guns because of this.  Occasionally one of the others will have drifted off POA but not with the consistency of the Beeman.
Other than that I like the gun.  Well the ugly tendency to slam-fire if the bolt slips while cocking is a little disconcerting.  I'm surprised the lawyers didn't catch that.  It's light, handy, (mostly) accurate, powerful, and it has a useable shot curve with plenty of shots for an afternoon of squirrel hunting.  Only with open sights.

[Nukall856]

  The other day it was "warm"outside around 25°F but I couldn't find my Chrono until it was dark out. Today it is 24°F and 20°F is near the lower limit of my temperature resistance for comfortable shooting.
 I have pumped the Raider to 2500 PSI as I expect to lose at least 100 PSI from the temperature change going outside. I also added 1/6 of a turn in to attempt to find the magic setting. Now set around 3.66 turns in from out flush.
 After I get a few things done I'll put together a shot string as the mid twenties temperatures won't stay around for long.
 I have yet to mount a scope on the Raider. Soon I'll be mounting one of the scopes I have around.
 Blowpipe Sam, thankyou for updating us on your progress. Excellent Work Stay Alert

NVak
 

[Blowpipe Sam]

I went back to the Sports match rings and the Winchester scope.  It was the most successful combination for the longest period of time.  Then I shot a 1 hole offhand group from 20 yards.  I really like the power of this gun.  It does an impressive amount of damage to small game.  The three squirrels I've killed with it were DRT.  Even the boiler room shot only ran a couple of yards before expiring.  I don't like to cripple animals or cause unnecessary suffering so I'm moving toward .25 as my primary hunting caliber.  I've discovered (courtesy of the Raider) that I really like magazine fed repeaters.  So as disappointed as I am right now I intend to persevere with the Beeman.   I just have to accept that jolting down forest road 358 is out for the Raider.  I'll just have to carry some other gun when I hunt those spots.

It's not like I don't have a few others.

[naptemp]

Any PCP air gun of Beeman Raider's quality under $200 is another Beeman PCP.

I am shooting 1.5" spinner target at 50-60 yards with mine and I am very happy with their performance.
I really like the Beeman Raider.
It is short, svelte, with a nice wooden stock and shoots way above its price.

I removed the fake shroud pieces and sights fom mine.
The barrel has a 1/2-20 thread, thank you Beeman for that.
Many foreign manufacturers (Snowpeak, Beeman, etc) are coming to understand the importance of the 1/2-20 threaded barrels or shrouds.

The trigger needs some improvement, but it seems to be a Crosman style trigger (coming from break barrels?).

[NorCal David]

...I just have to accept that jolting down forest road 358 is out for the Raider.  I'll just have to carry some other gun when I hunt those spots.

So be it. I am sorry to hear that since my main skill is knocking mine onto the ground and dropping stuff. Will be more careful in the future. I just put new scope rings that are a bit higher on mine to see if the mag will fit under the BugBuster. If not, I will change scopes. Filled the shooting bags and am ready to sight it in, maybe next week. Hope mine accepts more abuse than yours does. Enjoy your hunting with whatever works for you!

[Nukall856]

Beeman Raider 1331 .22

*** correction. Previous post showed a setting of 3.66, after reading through my notes it is actually set at;
3.41 Turns in

2400 PSI Start
CPUM 14.3gr

1. 814
3. 816
5. 827
7. 834
9. 838
10. 849 @2000 PSI
11. 852
13. 848
15. 839
17. 830
19. 811
20. 814 @ 1550 PSI

It appears as though I already had found the magic setting. So I took back the 1/6 turn I had added.
The setting of 3.25 providing a better shot string unless the small changes have to do with atmospheric pressure and low temperatures having an effect on the small springs in play.
 Next is to try other pellets along with mounting a scope. Later time will be getting the Raider BStaley Modified and even later would be to add the SL Breech.

NVak

[NorCal David]

... add the SL Breech.
NVak

That breech might solve the drifting POA? Plastic breeches might not be a great idea.

[Blowpipe Sam]

... add the SL Breech.
NVak

That breech might solve the drifting POA? Plastic breeches might not be a great idea.

That's where I'm headed.